REFUGIO COUNTY – The Mission River access project at the end of Mission River Road is officially completed, said O.G. Randle, vice president of the Water Control and Improvement District No. 2 and the project’s manager.

“All told, it was close to a $400,000 project,” Randle said.

“I’ve been working on this project close to five years,” he said.

“It is complete and open to the public. The parking lot and road are all paved, and there are guards to keep vehicles from driving off in the dark,” he added.

Randle said people are already finding out by word of mouth about the new boat launch Mission River access, which is the sole public access to the Mission River.

During the Easter holidays, he said about 50 vehicles were counted over the weekend.

The people were coming from San Antonio, Austin, Rockport, Aransas Pass and Corpus Christi.

The project was paid for in part by a federal Coastal Impact Assistance Program grant in the amount of $80,033, A Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant in the amount of $166,500; and local contributions of $75,000.

County Commissioner Stanley Tuttle provided in-kind work to pave the parking lot and road.

The 217-foot seawall was constructed by the firm of J.M. Davidson, of Aransas Pass.